A Peer-Reviewed or Scholarly journal article is a publication that has undergone a rigorous review process by experts in the same field before being accepted for publication. This process ensures that the research presented is high quality, credible, and contributes to the existing body of knowledge in a particular subject area. Peer-reviewed articles are written by scholars, researchers, and experts in the field and are characterized by an academic tone and formal structure.
You can identify peer-reviewed articles by looking at following:
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Journal title - Look for journals known for scholarly content. They may sound like "Journal of...", "International Journal of...", "American Journal of..."
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Authorship - Authors tend to be experts in the field who are affiliated with academic institutions and have degrees/credentials in the area of study.
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Abstract - these types of articles often have a quick summary at the beginning showing their research, methodology, and findings.
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References - scholarly articles provide a comprehensive list of references, allowing readers to verify the sources and explore related literature.
How Can I Find Peer-Reviewed Articles in My Subject?
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Library Databases - The UI Libraries has an extensive collection of databases that provide a wide range of scholarly journals. Use the drop down arrow to choose a subject area and suggested database on your topic.
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InfoHawk+ - The Library catalog will allow you to search broadly for topics and you can then filter to only Peer-Reviewed articles
Peer-reviewed articles may vary across disciplines, so it will be important to familiarize yourself with the conventions of your specific field to ensure you are accessing authoritative and reputable sources. And remember, you can always reach out to a librarian for assistance in identifying the types of articles and journals to use.
Additional resources:
To identify a good database to use in your subject, see Guides by Subject.
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